Should we ‘dumb down’ golf rules? The US Open champion thinks so…
Wyndham Clark has often fielded questions from his non major-winning, mortal golf buddies about the rules of the game which have led him to think they could be over-complicated…
US Open champion and PGA Tour star Wyndham Clark believes golf rules should be made “simpler and easier.”
The American addressed the laws of the game in an interview with Fox News as he recalled the rules fiasco he was involved in at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
After placing his club behind his ball in the rough on the 18th hole at Bay Hill, some golf fans began pointing at their televisions and tapping on their phones, claiming Clark caused his ball to move.
Clark revealed afterwards that he consulted his playing partner Scottie Scheffler and a rules official before the rules committee determined that he didn’t break the rules.
Debate ensued online about the definition of moving a golf ball and now, Clark has called for a simplification of the Rules of Golf to reduce confusion at a recreational level.
Wyndham Clark: Golf rules should be ‘easier and simpler’
“It is unfortunate because I had no ill intent to try to cheat or improve my lie,” he said. “I didn’t even know anything had happened until I got into the scoring tent, and that’s when they showed me the video. You see the video, and you’re like, ‘Oh man, that doesn’t look great’.
“It’s unfortunate that it looks poorly, but I really had no ill intent.”
“In my defence, you’re allowed to put your club down and see your lie,” he added. “It is what it is, and hopefully in a few weeks, it passes by.
“But I’ve never tried to cheat in the game of golf, and hopefully people don’t think of me that way. I just think the camera was zoomed in and made it look worse than it really was.
“There are some things where I’m like, ‘Can we dumb it down on the rules and not make it so complicated and make it a little simpler and more user-friendly?’
“It’s second nature for us, so I don’t think about (it) as much, but when I get into social golf with buddies, and they’re asking questions, they don’t understand, I’m like ‘you’re right, it is really complicated and probably should be easier and simpler.”
The rules say a moving ball is defined as “when a ball at rest has left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and this can be seen by the naked eye (whether or not anyone actually sees it do so).”
If the ball oscillates and stays or returns to its spot, it hasn’t moved. Despite the efforts of social media sleuths, it was determined Clark’s ball hadn’t deviated from its original spot.
Clark came second to Scottie Scheffler at the tournament in question. He then came second to the World No.1 again at The Players Championship the week after.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
